Typewriter tabulating mechanism



March 1956 E. o. BLODGETT TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM 17Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 INVENTOR EDWIN O. BLODGETTATTORNEY March 27, 1956 E. o. BLODGETT 2,739,690

TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 l7Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. v EDWIN Q. BLODGETT ATTORNEY March 27, 1956E. o. BLODGETT 2,739,690

TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 15, 1950 17Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 E,BLQDGETT 2,739,690

TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORNEY March 1956 E. o.BLODGETT TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 OriginalFiled Oct.

INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT BY w/JW ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 E. o.BLODGETT 2,739,690

TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17eets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 E. o.BLODGETT TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM 17 Sheets-Sheet 7 OriginalFiled Oct.

INVENTOR. EDWIN O.BLODGET'I BY flw/ 10ml ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 QBLODGETT 2,739,690

TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 15, 1950 17Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORNEY March 1955 E. o.BLODGETT TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 9 OriginalFiled Oct. 13, 1950 INVEN TOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT BY 6 49W ATTORNEY March27, 1956 E. o. BLODGETT 2,739,690

TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17Sheets-Sheet l0 INVEN TOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 E.o. BLODGETT 2,739,690

TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17Sheets-Sheet ll INVEN TOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT BY Mun/1 W ATTORNEY March1956 E. o. BLODGETT TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct.

17 Sheets-Sheet l2 UN LI INVEN TOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORNEY March 27,1956 E. BLQDGETT 2,739,690

TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17Sheets-Sheet 15 IN VENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 E.0. BLODGETT 2,739,690

TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17Sheets-Sheet 14 IN VEN TOR. EDWIN O. BLODGEI'T BY j/w ATTORNEY March 27,1956 BLQDGETT 2,739,690

TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17Sheets-Sheet l5 INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 QBLQDGETT TYPEWRITER TABULATING MECHANISM 17 Sheets-$heet 16 OriginalFiled Oct.

INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT BY m/fimzw ATTORNEY United States Pate-fitTYPEWRITER- TABULATlNG MECHANISM Eawm 0. Blodgett, Rochester, N. 1.,assign'or to mercial Controls Corporation, Rochester, N; Y'., acorporation of Delaware Original application October 13, 1950, SerialNo. 189,9;8 0, now Patent No. 2,700,446, dated January 25, 19 55.Divided and this application March 21, 1952, Serial No. 277,746

2' Claims. ((31. 197-176) This invention relates to typewriterstructures. Thel'iiivention herein was conceived in connection'withth'tape controlled typewriter of my applicationfoi pateht, Serial No.189,980, filed October 13, 1950, now Patent umber 2,700,446, grantedJanuary 25, 1955, of which this application is a division, and in whichapplicationi's shown and claimed a typewriter in which-a controltape'isic'ode'd by perforating, and in which such cohtroltape'is thenfor the automatic control of the typewriter iii r'eproducing PY v Themachine of my parent application includes a p'owei operated typewriterhaving code selecting nichar'iisiii operative upon depression of a keylever to seleet'a'code representative of the character controlledbysuch-lever, together with a tape punch' controlled by the=' ke'ycoritrolledselector for producing combinational code perfo'jrations in acontrol tape. The machine alsOin'CludS means for sensing a tapeperforated as statedandtor translating such perforations to the end-thatthe power operated type action of the typewriter may be under thecontrol of the perforated tape for transcribing text in printed form. VM

It is an important object that'the normal typewriter structures andfunctions beconditioned for best perform ance under autorn'aticpowercontrol. It is, thereforey'a specific object of this inventionto providean'im'proved tab'ula'ting mechanism effective to avoid carriage r'e'-'bound.

In a manually operated typewriter the operator may control the forcewith-which a carriage is moved under spring. tension during tabulatingmovement of'the'cafi riage; This is frequently accornplishedbycontrolling carriage speed by hand- In an automatically controlled poweroperated typewriter such'manual control is; how ever, not feasible: Itis-important, therefore, thatspecia'l means be provided for'preventingrebound of 'the'car-i riage. In light of the fact that the machineherein is designed to space units as small as A of an inch, it is quiteimportant that the carriage rebound upon tabulating movement'thereof beminimized or avoided entirely.

This objective of the invention is achieved by provid ing tabulatingcontrol mechanism including means f0f're-' leasing=the carriage from itsescapement mechanism to subject it to the operative influence of thecarriage con-'- trol spring in conjunction with a stop device forarrestingmovement-of the carriage while under control ofthe spring.-Finally, there is providedhereincarriage latch ing mechanism operativeupon contact with-the stop de vice for latching-thecarriage againstrebound, andmeari s thereafter operative to releasethe latchingmechanismi Specific objects, features and advantages of-th'inven tionwill become clear as the description of the"rn'achine is read in lightof the drawings in which:

Figll is an exterior perspective view of the writiii'g nia chineconstituting the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through therfia' chine at'a"'point just above the keyboard;

2,739,690 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 Fig": 3 i s 'a vertical sectional viewthrough the keyboard, the power roller,'and the type basket;

Fig. 4 is'a detail view of toggle mechanism for shifting the type basketto lower case position; I V M Fig"; 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 andshows the toggle linkage in the released position assumed when the typeb'asket'i'sin upper case position; I

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the toggle mechanism for shifting" the typebasket to upper case position; M

Fig} 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showsthe toggle linkage in thereleased position which it assumes when the basket is shifted to lowercase position; Fig. 8 is a detail view of the ribbon shifting mechanism;

Fig 9 is a view of the mechanism at therightliadd poition of Fig. 8,showing the elements in shifted position;

Fig; Fig. nism;

Figz' Fig. Fig

10 is a view taken on line 10' 10 of Fig; 8; p 1 1' isadetailed view ofthe platen indexing mecha- 12 is a view taken on'line 12-12'of Fig. 11;13 is an end elevational view of the carriage; 14 is a plan view' of'the" esca'p'er'nent mechanism; Fig; 15- is a vertical sectional viewthrough the ower rol1er,'the type basket, the carriage and thees'c'apemein mechanism; i

Fig; 16 is 'a vertical sectional view taken online'16'16 of Fig. 15; v

Fig: 17 is a large'scale detail view o'f 'p'art of theca'i riagere'lease mechanism; M v F .ig; 18 is'a sectional view on line 18 18 ofFig." 17; Fig. 19 is a rear elevation of the tabulating an'd ca 'rriagerelease mechanism;

Fig. 19a is a fragmentary plan view made in section of Fig. 19 showingthe carriage rebound' latch;

, Fig. 1% is a fragmentary elevational view'of the' re bound latch shownin Fig; 19a;

Fig. 20 is a rear elevation of a release and tabulating mechanism,certain parts having been, removed to show underlying structure;

Fig. 20a is a fragmentary detail in elevation of the car riage returnlinkage of Fig. 19 arranged to operate" a carriage return contact;

Fig ZQb isa fragmentary view in elevation of the linkage shown in Fig.19 for operating a carriage control contact during line spacingoperations;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view online 21'-21 of Fig. 19;

Fig. illustrates the carriage return control clutch and its associatedoperatingmechanism, the view bein'g' along the clutch axis; 7 I

Fig. 23 is a rear plan view of the tabulating mecha nism showing theparts in one position of operation;

Fig. 24 is a rear plan view of the tabulatingmeclia part of the carriageshown in Fig. 24.

Power frame and type aciioiz Thefniachine is assembled around'a'sturdyfmjfl d fi" f m by a right and left 'aluminurncasting'" joinedat thefront by another aluminum casting and base at the rear by an angularsteel plate 11 extendingov'er the top rear portions ofthe side'castings'to brace the entire assembly. A power frame assembly'12,a code3 selector 13 and a code translator 14 are mounted between the two sidecastings. A tape punch 15 and a tape reader 16 are mounted on the lefthand side of the frame. A carriage and rail assembly is mounted betweenthe top rear portions of the two side castings, and a space at the rearof the carriage is provided for auxiliary apparatus.

A single, constant speed H. P. motor 17 is mounted on the inner face ofthe rear frame plate 11, and this motor is connected by a V-belt 18 to apower shaft 19. Power shaft 19 is connected by means of a chain drive 20to a continuously rotating power roll 21 which is adapted to operate thetype bars through a conventional cam arrangement as will be more fullypointed out. The motor 17 is also connected to drive the tape punch 15,the tape reader 16 and the translating mechanism 14. This drive isachieved through a series of gears as follows. The power shaft 19through gear 22 drives a gear 23 on the drive shaft of the tape punch15. A gear 24 fixed to the power roll shaft is in mesh with a gear 25 onthe drive shaft of the tape reader 16. A pair of gears 26 impartsdriving power to the code translator mechanism 14. The individual gearsfor driving each of these units not only afford the proper relativespeeds, but also permit easy removal of each unit from the base.

The power frame 12 which is mounted within the base 10 has assembledthereon the key levers 27 and the power operated type actions. The keylevers 27 are operable to control their associated power cams with aminimum of effort. The manner in which the operating cams are energizedby the power roll 21 will appear more fully hereinafter. A normallyenergized magnetic lock 28 (Fig. 2) adapted to rock a key lever lockingbail 29 (see Fig. 3) is provided to prevent effective operation of thekeys when the power for any reason is off, or when the keys should notbe operated for any other reason.

Each key lever controls a cam assembly contacting with the constantlyrunning power roll 21 whereby each lever control cam furnishes the powerfor operating a type bar through a bell crank and, in addition, operatesa slide of the code selector mechanism 13.

The manner inwhich power is imparted to the operative mechanism of themachine will be only briefly described since the arrangement isgenerally shown in the International electric writing machine formerlyknown as the Electromatic. It is in connection with electric, writingmachines of this type that the invention has been disclosed. However, itwill be understood that the invention is not limited in application tothe specific machine selected for purpose of illustration, but may beapplied to other power operated writing machines.

As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings the key levers 27 are pivoted on arod 30 which is supported by a cross member of the power frame assembly.The power roller 21 is mounted under the power frame assembly forrotation in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) by means of the driveconnections to the motor previously described.

Cooperating with the power roll 21 are cam units 31 which are pivotallymounted on rods 32 extending parallel with the power roller 21. There isa cam unit 31 associated with each key lever 27 and each cam unit incontrol of a type bar is connected by a link 33 with a bell crank 34pivoted on rod 38. The bell cranks 34 are connected by links 35 to thetype bars 36 through the medium of toggles 37. The type bars 36 arepivoted on the usual wire segment 38 provided on a type bar segment 39located in front of the conventional platen. The platen, as will appearhereinafter, is rotatably mounted in a carriage which is supported onfront and rear rails by means of suitable anti-friction roller trucks.

When any character key 40 is depressed, its cam unit 31 is caused tooperably engage the power roller 21 in a well known way, thereby rockingthe cam unit 31 clockwise or counterclockwise, according to whether theoperative cam unit is pivoted on the left or on the right hand rod 32,respectively. The rocking of the cam unit causes its link 33 or 42 (forthe cam units on the right and left respectively, Fig. 3) to be drawndownwardly, thereby rocking the corresponding bell crank 34. Thismovement of the bell crank 34, through the corresponding link 35 andtoggle 37, causes type bar 36 associated with the selected key to rockin a printing stroke and to make an impression of the type upon a worksheet carried about the platen. The type bar 36, near the end of itsoperative stroke, engages and actuates the usual universal bar 41 (Fig.15).

It may be pointed out that the operating linkage for the type bars 36which has just been described includes several novel features whichrender the linkage system adjustable to secure an optimum and a uniformimpression of the type. In Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be noted thatthe downwardly depending link 42 is connected to its cam assembly 31 (atthe left, Fig. 3) at the forward or keyboard side of the power roll bymeans of a threaded pin 43, which is pivoted at one end to the link 42and which is adjustably threaded at its other end into a socket 44 inthe horizontal leg of the cam unit frame. The links depending downwardlyfrom the bell cranks 34 are composed of two sections which are screwedinto each other, thereby providing a further adjustment by means ofwhich the associated cams may be accurately spaced with respect to thepower roll- It will appear, therefore, that the leverage assertedthrough the link and the cam unit may be adjusted through the threadedpin 43. It may also be pointed out that the toggle 37 consisting of arms45 and 46 is so arranged as to effectively inhibit rebound action of thetype bars 36. One end of the arm 45 of the toggle is mounted on a fixedpivot rod 47, while the other end is pivoted to the arm 46 by means of apivot pin 48. The operative connection of the arm 46 of the toggle tothe type bar 36 is at a pivot pin 49. The operation of the togglemechanism is stabilized by a spring 50 which is attached to the togglearm 46 at one of its ends and to a fixed frame member at its other end.It will be observed that when the toggle linkage 45-46 is in itsextended position the points 47, 48 and 49 are in a substantiallystraight line so that upon return of the type bar 36 to its position ofrest, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the toggle linkage will inelfect constitute a lock against the rebound action of the type bar 36.A fine adjustment of the toggle linkage may be obtained by eitherslightly shortening the arm 45 or by lengthening it. Such alteration ofthe arm 45 is easily achieved by either springing apart. or closing apair of ears 51 which constitute the legs of a generally U-shapedportion of the arm 45.

Case shift The type basket 52, see Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, is mounted forselective shifting between upper and lower case printing positions bymounting the same on two sets of parallel leaf springs in the well knownmanner. For the purpose of shifting the type basket, there has beenprovided herein improved power operated mechanism. A key lever and camassembly is provided for shifting the basket to one position, and aseparate key lever and cam assembly is provided for shifting it to theother position. This provides positive, fast,-automatic operation of thetype basket shift for selectively printing upper or lower casecharacters under the control of the code translator mechanism 14. Twooppositely disposed toggle mechanisms adjustably hold the basket in itstwo shifted positions, and the power from each basket shift cam unit isapplied to move the basket by breaking its associated toggle. Thisimparts an easy, accelerated motion to the basket. Specifically, themanner in which the type basket is shifted from one position to anotherwill be seen by reference to Figs. 4-7, wherein Figs. 4 and 5 illustratethe shifting mechanism at the left side of the type basket and Figs. 6and'7 illustrate theshifting-mechanism -at the rightside of the basket."furthermore, Figs:"4"and 7 show the position of the shifting mechanismatthe left andright side of the basket, respectively, when the basket hasbeen moved upwardly'for-printing lower case characters, while Figs. 5and-6 show-theposition of the'mechanism at the left andright' side,respectively,- when the basket has been moved downwardly forprintingofupper case characters. A lowercase" key LCl isdisposed-"at the righthand side of'the keyboard, and depression of this key will operatea-cam' assembly'as will be pointed out hereinafter. The key L01 isconnected bymeansof a transverse bail 53' (Fig. 3) with a =lower caseshiftkey LCZ-disposed at'the-left han'tl side' of "the keyboard. Anupper case shift key UC1 is disposed at the left hand side of thekeyboard and'depression of'this ke'y wilkoperate'an associated camassembly; as' will be pointed out hereinafter. The upper case shift keyUCl is attached to an upper case shift keyUCZ which isdisposed at theright hand side of the keyboard 'by*means of a transverse bail 54. Itwill appear, therefore,thatdepression of either of'the case shiftkeys-LCl'or' LCZ on the one hand or UCl or UCZ on the other hand willeffect ashifting movement of the type basket.

Fig. 4 of the drawings shows the typeba'sket 52in its upper position inwhich lower case characters are printed; To the rear face of a sideframe member of the basket 52 is attached a bracket 55 by means of apair-of'screws, and to the bracket 55 are pivoted toggle levers58*and-59: One end of a third toggle lever 56' is pivoted ori-a-shaff60, while the other end of the lever56is pivoted to-thelever 59 at anintermediate point thereof' by means of-a pivot pin 61. The free end ofthe'lever 59 has a'stucb 62 extendingfrom a face thereof -to which isattached a spring 63 which is anchored'atits'otherend to a fixedframemember. The other end of the'lever 59'is pivoted to the bracket 55 bymeans of a pivot'pin 59a'. The lever 58 of' the toggle system has oneendthereof pivoted on a pivot pin 64 carried by the bracket- 55. The opposite end-of the lever 58 is pivoted to a short lever'65 by means of apivot pin 66, the short lever65 being se-'- cured to a rock shaft 67.

The toggle system as it is disposed in Fig. 4; when-the type basket iselevated to its lower case position,- has the pivot points-59a, 60 and61 of the toggle system in substantial alignment and the spring 63 undersubstan tial tension, and is effective to exert considerableturningforce on a finger 70 which holds the toggle levers '59 and 56 in-theirstraightened relation, as shown in Fig.* 4,'whe'rein the lever 56engages the finger 70 of a'release lever'6j9 which is in turn stopped byextension 71 and stop 72. This positively holds the basket in its upperposition. The arrangement at the other side of the basket has a likefunction.

In order to release the basket 52 to its' lower position for theprinting of upper case characters, it is merely neces'sary to depresseither key UC1 or UCZ" to rock the key lever 67d about the rod 30,whereby its associated cam assembly is brought into contact with thepower roll 21 and-a connecting link 68 is thereby drawn downwardly. Thetoggle release lever 69 is pivoted for-rocking move: ment about the rockshaft 60 and'the upper free'end-of the release lever 69 has an inturnedfinger 70 which abuts the edgeof the lever 56 to rock the same ina'clo'ckwis'e direction to break the toggle'linkage intothe-positionshown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The release lever 69 has anextension 71 which is adapted to contact'a stop member 72 when therelease lever and its associated cam assembly are in normal ornon-operated position.

As"viewed in Fig. 5 of the drawings the case shifttoggle'linkage is inits released position wherein the force Of'thespring 63a is directedalongla line from its pointof anchorage 62a through the pivot point 591)of the lever 5- 9 c-.- Inthis posit-ionthe etfectof'the spring is-substantiallyn'eutralizedt I Whe'n the' type basket isin its'uppercaseposition, the operating toggle at" the righthand side of' the basketis as shown in'Fig.- 60f the drawings; While its position at thatside-of the basket'for-flowercase-printingisshown in Fig. 7 of thedrawings. The'toggle linkage at the right side of the=basket whichcontrols-the shiftingv of the basket into the lower case position is inall respectssimilar'to the shifting mechanismat the; lefthand side ofthe basket with the exception; that the position of the lever-59 isreversed to that; of -lever 590. That is to say, the pivot point 59a ofFigs. 4-5 is disposed-asshown at 5%, Figs. 6-7 atthe bottom edge ofthe-bracket 55a, whileth'e free end of the lever 590 extends upwardlywhen'the toggle system is in its extended oroperative-positionIf,-therefore, the basket is in its uppercase-position (Fig- 6) and itis-desired to'shift thesame to lower case'position (Fig.; 7), itis;merely necessarytoydepressthe lower case shift key LC1 and-itsassociated key lever- 73 to rock the lever downwardly about the=rod -30.This will effectively release its cam assemblyfor contact with-thepowerroll 21 with theresult that the link 68a is moved downwardly andthereleaselever 69a will be rocked into contact with thetoggle lever56aso that the toggle system will be broken' into the positionshown inFig. 7 of the drawings wherethe-forcegof the spring 63w extendssubstantially from-its'pointof connection 62a with the lever 59c throughthe pivot point 59b whereby its effect on the togglelinkage issubstantially nullified. I

The'type basket -52 has lugs 74 extending forwardly fromeaehsidethereof, and these lugs carry stop screws 75 on which stopnuts 76are-threaded. The'stop nuts 76 -at the left side of thebasket areadapted in the upper case position: (Fig. 5) to contact the face of astop. bar 77 fixedtoand extending forwardly from a portion of the powerframe. The stop nuts 76 at the right hand side of'the basket are adaptedin the lower case position; (Fig. 7) to contact the lower face of thestop bar'77 at the right handside of the basket. The movement-of thetypebasket 52 may, therefore, be accurately-limited by adjusting'thestop: nuts 76; the pair-at theleft hand sideof the basket for limitingdownward movement of the basket and the pair-at the-right hand side ofthebasket for lirnitingupward movement of the basket.

When'one set of toggles is operated to shiftthe-basket a slightcompression force isexerted on the stop members 75-77 (Fig. 7) at theopposite=side of the basket.- Thus, the forceapplied at one side of themachine is resistedtosome extent at the other side. Thisis effective totake up all the play that'niay be in pivots 64,-: 66 andin the' bearingsof rock shaft 67. I I

The importance of the foregoing case'shift control lies inthe fact thatthe toggle linkage system is-broken by: power roll energy, wherebya-mechanicaladvantage is realized and wear on the power rollisminimized. Furthermore, the movement of the type basket is rapidandpositive under'the influence of the breaking-of the'toggle linkageand the spring63.

Ribbon shift and 10a shaft 78 which is mounted for rocking motion in thepower frame elements-79 and-80 is theshaft which" is-rnanually rockedin-conventionalwriting machines for eif ectingcolor change or fieldshift of; the writing-ribbon To-the outer end of the shaft 78 hasbeenfixed 'a rocker

